Tu-22 BLINDER (TUPOLEV)
Several versions of the Blinder-bomber were built:
Variants
- Blinder A - Tu-22B -- Blinder A is primarily employed as a medium bomber dropping free-fall bombs, each of the ten 22B bombers were mainly used for training purposes. The aircraft also could be modified to serve as a tanker. Initially, converted TU-16Z planes served as tankers, but from 1972 on they were replaced by TU-22RM aircraft carrying new onboard avionics.
- Blinder B - Tu-22K -- The Tu-22K was equipped to carry one Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen ) 250-nm range air-to-surface The TU-22K carried a missile, and could also carry free-fall bombs. It carried out its' first tests in 1961 and deployment started in 1967 after conclusion of the testing phase.
- Blinder C -- In 1962 the maritime reconnaissance aircraft TU-22P was equipped with an air refueling system and received the designation TU-22PD. About 70 'Blinder-C' reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft were produced
- Blinder D - Tu-22U -- The - Tu-22B is a trainer version similar to Blinder A, though with a raised student cockpit.
- Blinder E - TU-22RDM -- Further upgrading in the 1980s lead to the TU-22RDM reconnaissance aircraft.
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